VietNamNet Bridge – Scientists will co-ordinate with government agencies to treat polluted lakes in the city with a chemical called LTH-100.

To Lich River in Ha Noi is heavily polluted with industrial waste and sewage.

The chemical had been extensively tested before it was used to clean up Van Lake in front of the Temple of Literature earlier this year.

Scientists poured 210 litres of LTH-100 into the 5.600sq.m lake and after 20 days the water didn’t smell.

Scientists also released over 100 carp into the lake and they were found to be healthy ten days later.

Before treatment, Van Lake was seriously polluted with toxic algae and waste water, as are many other lakes in the city. Ha Noi Drainage Ltd Company has just completed a general report on the water quality of lakes in the city, and scientists from the Enterprise Nursery will co-ordinate with Government agencies to plan the treatment phase.

Many scientists hold that lakes in the city are seriously polluted, especially smaller lakes. The two most important polluted lakes in Ha Noi are West Lake and Hoan Kiem Lake.

According to Professor Ha Dinh Duc, from the Viet Nam Nature and Environment Protectors’ Association, this November German scientists will help clean up Hoan Kiem Lake using dredging equipment.

“We are content the cleaning up of Hoan Kiem Lake will be successful with the participation of experienced scientists,” he said.

However, Duc said that the West Lake remained polluted even though there had been many previous clean up projects.

“Scientists and authorities have not agreed with one another as to how to clean up waterways,” he said, “There has been no complete agreement even among scientists.”

According to the Institute of Environment Technology of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Thien Quang, Thanh Cong and Giang Vo lakes have become polluted again even though they were treated.

“It is a good idea to treat all the lakes in the city with proper technology and careful planning. The treatment should ensure the cleanness of the lakes and ecological systems, otherwise it will be a waste of time and effort,” said Duc. “The most important thing is that after treatment, waste water should not run into the lakes again,” he said.

There are 100 lakes in Ha Noi, 20 of which are located in the centre of the city.

The Kim Nguu, Lu, Set and To Lich rivers have suffered from long-term pollution, with around 500,000 cubic metres of waste water - 100.000 cubic metres of which are toxic - being discharged into the rivers daily.

Only a third of waste water from industrial and service enterprises is treated while the rest is discharged into lakes and rivers.

Rivers in danger

More than 500,000 cu.m per day of waste water discharged from industrial areas and trade villages is seriously polluting Ha Noi’s rivers, according to Nguyen Cong Thanh, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has completed a comprehensive check of the waste water practices of 11 industrial areas, seven trade villages and 55 manufacturers.

The Ministry has noted that the United Motor Viet Nam Ltd Company in Noi Bai Industrial Area discharges 300 cu.m of untreated waste water per day into the Cau River, exceeding the allowed level of pollutants such as coliform by 21 times and iron by over 19 times.

According to Thanh, Ha Noi Electronics Corporation is one of four companies in the Sai Dong B Industrial Area seriously polluting the Cau Bay River with over 2,000 cu.m of waste water every day.

According to the Ministry’s Environment Department, trade villages also contribute to the pollution of Ha Noi’s rivers by discharging waste water.

Phu Do Vermicelli Trade Village discharges 120 cu.m of waste water into the Nhue River daily.

Only 80 out of 400 factories and more than 15,000 manufacturers and six out of 42 hospitals have waste water treatment systems.

Many rivers in Ha Noi such as the To Lich, Set, Lu and Kim Nguu are now seriously polluted.

Environmental pollution exceeds allowed levels and Ha Noi’s rivers are dying, said Dang Kim Chi, deputy head of the Science Technology and Environment Institute.

“In the past, I used to go fishing in the Lu River. However, now, it is impossible because the water is black and smells very bad,” said Dang Dinh Thuc from Thanh Liet Commune, Thanh Tri District.

People who use water polluted with heavy metals such as iron and zinc might suffer from kidney and liver related diseases, said Dang Kim Chi.

“These companies should install waste water treatment systems before years’ end,” said Deputy Minister Thanh, ” so that pollution falls back to allowed levels.”

(Source: Viet Nam News)